NREA Development Services (NREADS) has been retained to create a new mixed-use development plan for the 4.35 acre Girard Estate site between 11th and 12th Streets bounded by Market and Chestnut Streets.
Girard Square will have pedestrian-oriented retail, new residential rental apartments, parking, signage, office, and hospitality uses.
The site can accommodate approximately 4.3 million square feet of development, which the NREADS team will create through a phased plan that maximizes density, the company indicated.

Longtime lurker here that finally found something before everyone else on here (I think, unless this is what Summersam was alluding to the other day). This could be a huge improvement for Market East if this happens (and demo by July? Sounds like it is).

In a sweeping $500 million-plus project aimed at finally upgrading Philadelphia's worn downtown retail district and spreading Center City's apartment revival east of Broad Street, a development group says it plans to demolish a modest block of stores on Market Street between 11th and 12th - and eventually level or renovate the rest of the block down to Chestnut Street - in favor of a new retail/residential complex.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/busines...XSTZd9r4Tpf.99

Developers of the complex, to be called East Market, are two Philadelphia concerns, backed by Washington and New York firms.

"We're going to have grocers, we're going to have restaurants, entertainment, fashion," said Jeff Kanne, chief executive of National Real Estate Advisors (NREA), a $2.2 billion-asset, Washington-based firm that counts the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and other unions as investors.

"All the tenants have been terminated, and we expect to knock that building down in July," Kanne said Tuesday of the 1100 block of Market Street, former site of the N. Snellenburg & Co. department store and currently home to a dollar store and electronics, clothing, and jewelry shops.

Planned are two new store buildings facing Market Street, lit by Times Square-style signs, that will be topped by 325 apartments (at perhaps $2,200 a month for a one-bedroom unit), with parking underground.

DC's National Real Estate Advisors is behind the project to redevelop the former Girard Square block at 11th and Market. CEO Jeffrey Kanne tells us that the aptly renamed East Market project will begin by replacing the low-rise retail building facing Market Street with a mixed-use retail center and apartment tower. Construction will eventually extend down to Chestnut Street and bring a smaller-scale, boutique shopping experience with more apartments to supplement the robust activity on Market.

With leases terminated, all tenants will be out by July, and work should commence on Phase 1, which should eventually transform East Market into 140k SF of retail with a 325 apartments rising above. The construction gives National the chance to put modern amenities in place, among them a business center, fitness center, and third-floor decks. An additional 150k SF will be available for offices but could go residential based on demand. And for shopping? A large variety of tenants are slated, and Jeff says to expect a mix of fashion, restaurants, and entertainment to revitalize the block.

From what I read online, what's standing there now is the bottom two floors of the former Snellenburgs department store that was built here back in 1889. After they closed in 1963 the building was apparently cut down and given the current facade....

This is Ludlow Street (between Market and Chestnut) This street will be retained as part of the development (see renderings above)

looking west from 11th:

Looking east:
^The large building on the right is the old Snellenburgs mens store annex. Plans call for a whole new facade for this stretch.

^Front of the building which later housed Community College Of Philadelphia's first campus, and currently contains facilities for the Family Court (which is set to move here and the Municipal Court (where that's going I have no idea)

I'm hoping the front will be preserved at least, can't tell from the renderings posted....

Snellenburgs was considered innovative back in 1939, when they opened a parking garage for their customers on the south side of the block facing Chestnut Street, this is the access from 11th St:

We'll go inside in a minute, but first I want to show the Chestnut Street side of the block, which is considered the "last Phase" of the redevelopment....

The Snellenburg Garage takes up the entire block front facing Chestnut presenting a late Art Deco/Streamlined Moderne facade. From the beginning, there were retail shops on the bottom floors and parking above. Not really anything special to write home about, and I wouldn't really miss it if it is gone, but OTOH, this would be a great case for a "Facadectomy" reconstruction (keeping the front and building a new structure behind) especially of big box stores are involved. In any case I at least hope some of the metalwork is preserved one way or another....

Now for inside the garage, which I don't think *anyone* would miss haha....

Ranstead Street (another through block street looking east) serves as the access to the garage, mens' store is at the left:

One of two weird "subway style" entrances that I assume just lead to the basement:

Let's head up shall we?

These elevators have got to be the *tiniest* I've ever been on, so small I couldn't get a good shot inside LOL....

^Stephan Girard building (Built 1891) at the left. This well be preserved as part of the project and refurbished....

In the parking levels....

Base of Stephan Girard....

^I believe this alleyway is set to not only be preserved but run through the block to market, directly opposite the Reading Terminal building (in the background). Just imagine the dumpsters gone, a new facade on the right and a vista opened up framed by new towers at either end....etc....etc....

....okay

Back down on Ranstead Street with the butt end of the garage looking east from 11th:

Finally, some parting shots of the Stephan Girard building, whose street level features are remarkably well preserved. (A lot of buildings in Philadelphia had their street fronts "modernized in the 1950's/60's) Expecting great things to come of this....

Definitely looking forward to how the site progresses in the next couple of years. This WILL be a dramatic improvement to the area and a major shot in the arm for Market East's revitalization